marmot

American  

[mahr-muht] / ˈmɑr mət /

noun

1. any bushy-tailed, stocky rodent of the genus Marmota, as the woodchuck.

2. any of certain related animals, as the prairie dog

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marmot British  

/ ˈmɑːmət /

noun

1. any burrowing sciurine rodent of the genus Marmota, of Europe, Asia, and North America. They are heavily built, having short legs, a short furry tail, and coarse fur

2. another name for prairie dog

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Etymology

Origin of marmot

First recorded in 1600–10; from French marmotte, Old French, apparently noun derivative of marmotter “to mutter, murmur” (referring to the whistling noises made by such animals), equivalent to marm- imitative base denoting a variety of indistinct, continuous sounds + -ot(t)er suffix of expressive verbs (though verb is attested only in modern French ); cf. murmur

Compare meaning

How does marmot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• marmot vs. woodchuck
• marmot vs. prairie dog

Explanation

A marmot is a furry animal that looks like a very large squirrel. The groundhog is the most solitary member of the marmot family. Marmots are the heaviest members of the squirrel family, weighing as much as 22 pounds. You can find these big rodents all over the Northern Hemisphere, from the French Alps to the steppes of Eurasia. Although groundhogs prefer to keep to themselves, many marmots are quite social. They all have long front teeth that keep growing, requiring them to gnaw constantly, and are herbivores. Marmot is derived from the Latin murem montis, "mountain mouse."

Example Sentences

Along with neighbouring Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent is the first Marmot council in Wales - this means it is committed to reducing health inequalities by addressing social determinants such as education, employment, and housing.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

The problem, according to the famed British epidemiologist Michael Marmot, is the way our health systems are forced to “treat people and send them back to the conditions that made them sick.”

From Slate • May 26, 2024

Nicholas became interested in joining her grandfather after seeing his unique Hike-a-Thon shirts — and the HaT mascot, Miles the Marmot.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 7, 2023

Fabrics from Marmot and Jack Wolfskin are using polyurethane, a kind of plastic material, to help repel water.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2022

The Marmot has generally two entrances to his burrow, the yellow-leg has only one.

From The Great Gold Rush A Tale of the Klondike by Jarvis, W. H. P. (William Henry Pope)